Power and Property Coinciding with Resentment and Jealousy
...owerful. These examples advocate the narrator’s statement because it is clearly obvious that power and property coincide with resentment and jealousy. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Jody Starks is greatly resented by the people of all-black Eatonville. His only desire is to uphold this illusion of total power and control over everyone and everything in the town. In order to fulfill this fantasy, Jody is determined to buy, build, and bully whatever he wants. By doing this, the citizens of the town find him to be overbearing. “‘...but, Sam, Joe Starks is too exact wid folks. All he got he done made it offa de rest of us. He didn't have all dat when he come here.’” (Hurston 49) The people of the town were irritated with Jody because he obtained all of his capabilities from Eatonville and its citizens. “The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe's positions and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him.” (Hurston 50) Because Jody was an authoritative figure, no one would confront this reign of power that he created so eloquently. Another example of how power and property affect people is in the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare. Duncan, the good king of Scotland, is admired by many, yet hated by Macbeth. Macbeth is a noble warrior and powerful man; however, he is not an honorable one. Duncan has a great deal of authority and is a respectable ruler. Since Macbeth is weak and extremely envious of Duncan’s title, he is overwhelmed with ambition and greed. Macbeth resorts to killing Duncan because he abhors him and yearns for his power. Finally, King Tutankhamen, the best known pharaoh of ancient Egypt, was young when he came in reign. King Tut had an enormous amount of power at a young age and many were jealous of this including hi...